The mental health sector is in luck or maybe not so much. Artificial intelligence reaches every corner and it seems that more and more people are turning to ChatGPT as a free and accessible alternative to expensive and long waiting lists for an appointment with a psychologist.
The truth is that the fame of this chatbot as a «virtual therapist» is largely due to its 24/7 availability, its ability to give you immediate answers and, above all, that it costs nothing.
People from all over the world comment have found temporary relief by sharing their problems with AI, from everyday problems to deeper crises.
However, the debate is ongoing and experts warn about the potential risks of this. There are many who point out that ChatGPT «can be as therapeutic as talking to a mirror» and warn that it should not be confused with a flesh-and-blood professional.
ChatGPT vs. human therapists: Are you willing for your psychologist to be a robot?
ChatGPT’s ability to appear empathetic and give advice based on a large amount of data has led some users to prefer it over humans. They say they ask the same questions they ask in consultation, with more or less similar answers and without having to wait for next month’s appointment..
However, professionals put on the table how truly dangerous this act is. In short, it must be very clear that ChatGPT lacks the ability to make mental health diagnoses or provide personalized treatments. AI can give you general ideas, but it cannot replace the experience and judgment of a psychologist.
However, on the other side there are even professionals who are considering how to integrate ChatGPT into their daily lives as a complementary tool. For example, using it to generate evaluation questions or simulate therapeutic sessions for training.
Despite all this, everyone agrees on the value of those people who have been trained to give you a quality diagnosis and evaluation. For now, the consensus among experts is clear: ChatGPT can be a really good tool for initial support, but it should not replace regular therapy.
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Tags: Artificial intelligence, Health, Doctors, Software